Media and Performing Arts books named among best academic titles of 2014

Books by two Middlesex University lecturers have been
named among the best academic publications of 2014 by the prestigious American
journal Choice.

Dr Alison Winch's book Girlfriends and Postfeminist Sisterhood and Immersive Theatres by Dr Josephine
Machon both feature in the review magazine's annual list of Outstanding
Academic Titles for 2014.

Published in January ever year, the list is compiled
by Choice's subject editors and plays
a major role in informing which books academic libraries put on their shelves –
particularly in the United States. The 2014 list features 690 titles across 54
disciplines and subjects.

Dr Josephine
Machon, Senior Research Fellow and Course
Leader of the MA Theatre Arts degree at Middlesex, was drawn to the
immersive form during her research for her first book (Syn)aesthetics. This included an
examination of the work of Punchdrunk who are renowned as pioneers of immersive
practice.

"Immersive
theatres respect the audience above and beyond the ways in which traditional theatre
does. The audience is conceptually and physically at the heart of the work," Josephine
explains.

"A
lot of our students really love immersive experiences, the challenges and
delights they offer. Many emulate the form in their own practice. I hope my
research gives access to the work, helping students to analyse it in depth and appreciate
it more."

For
cultural studies lecturer Dr Alison Winch, Girlfriends
and Postfeminist Sisterhood developed out of her research into the objectification
and sexualisation of women in contemporary television and film.

Published to critical acclaim in 2013, the book explores the
ways in which female friendships are becoming increasingly strategic – with 'slut-shamers',
'frenemies' and 'bridezillas' bonding over the analysis of each other's body
image through what Alison terms the 'girlfriend gaze'.

"A lot of people talk about the 'male gaze' in TV or film
and how it objectifies and sexualises women," explains Alison. "But the media
that I was watching represented female friendship and female networks, like Sex and the City or Some Girls.

"The 'girlfriend gaze' is different from the male gaze
because the female body circulates between women where it is scrutinised – but
it is kind of done in an empowering or entrepreneurial way. It is like the
traditional objectification through the male gaze, but with a new twist to it."